Best Flea and Tick Collars for Cats

Best Flea and Tick Collars for Cats

Fleas and ticks are regular problems for cats. These blood-sucking pests are able to make the life of your pet miserable and they can have a broader influence with a flea infestation in your house, which can be very hard to remove. Fleas are very well adapted to living in your home and are able to survive 100 days without feeding. Ticks are able to spread disease and there are even some that release toxins into the bloodstream that can be fatal.

It is important that as pet owners we take good care of our cats and that we ensure they receive appropriate protection from ticks and fleas. It is not an easy decision given that there are so many products available on the market. Sometimes cats will have to swallow the product. There are topical products that you apply to the skin of your pet. There are powders that are placed on their coats. There are sprays that are spread on top of their fur. Another convenient alternative that you can consider is pet collars against fleas and ticks. Just put them around your cat’s neck and they’re good to go.

We have looked into a number of the different collars available on the market today and discovered a variety of products with a range of different active ingredients. In order for you to make an informed decision of which product to get, we have provided you with some information, regarding the most recommended products available.

Bayer Seresto Flea and Tick Collar for Cat

Length of Protection Bayer has developed the Seresto collar to offer 8 months of protection for your cat from fleas and ticks. The collar has a matrix structure built in it, which allows the controlled flow of the product over time. This ensures that your pet will receive only low doses of the active chemicals over the 8-month period.

Active Ingredients The active ingredients are Imidacloprid to kill fleas and Flumethrin to kill ticks. Once the product has been released onto the skin of the cat it will kill and repel ticks on contact. They do not even have to bite your cat for them to be impacted by the product.

Bayer has undertaken testing to ensure that the collar ingredients are not only safe for your cat, but they are also safe for you and your family, as well as the environment. The ingredients are targeted at fleas and ticks and the release in small amounts makes them safe.

Functionality and Design The collar has been designed so that it will release if it gets caught and your cat will not be hurt. It has a simple ratchet system that allows the collar to expand in size so your cat’s head is able to slip out, and there is also a breaking point so if any extra pressure is applied to your cat’s collar if it does get caught, then it will snap and allow the cat to break free.

Not so great if you lose the collar but better that than losing the cat. The product itself is not greasy and it does not have any smell. Even though, there are chemicals and the collar should be disposed of appropriately. There are also considerations when handling the collar with the need to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. The collar does not have to be removed when you wash the cat as the matrix helps ensure it is water resistant.

People who Bought This Collar Said: This collar tends to be more expensive than others on the market. However, the design and the length of protection still make this an economical way to protect your cat. The obvious advantage of having 8-month protection is that it simply gives you reduced concerns about managing the care of your cat and it provides a simple solution.

You should still check your cat regularly to confirm it is effective. Also, if you do choose this product, when you start using the collar, it is important to closely monitor your pet to see if there is any kind of reaction. Some cats may be allergic and may therefore have a reaction to the collar. If you see any noticeable change in behavior or a skin reaction to the collar then remove it. Wash your cat with soap and water and rinse thoroughly with water.

Our Take This collar tends to be more expensive than others on the market. However, the design and the length of protection still make this an economical way to protect your cat. The obvious advantage of having 8-month protection is that it simply gives you reduced concerns about managing the care of your cat and it provides a simple solution. You should still check your cat regularly to confirm it is effective. Also, if you do choose this product, when you start using the collar, it is important to closely monitor your pet to see if there is any kind of reaction. Some cats may have allergic responses and some may have a reaction to the collar. If you see any noticeable change in behavior or a skin reaction to the collar then remove it. Wash your cat with soap and water and rinse thoroughly with water.

Cat Tick and Flea Collar, 8 Months Protection, Waterproof, All Sizes

Length of Protection The Slicemall collar has been designed to offer 4 months of protection for your cat from ticks and fleas, as well as repelling mosquitoes.

Active Ingredients The site advises that the product is non-toxic and will not hurt your family, although children should not be allowed to play with the collar. There is very limited information about this product and the site provides only basic information about its active components and how they are effective in protecting the cat from ticks and fleas.

It uses Tetrachlorvinphos, a powerful insecticide which is able to kill ticks and fleas and is used in other products. However, research is being undertaken to assess the impact of this insecticide on the health of animals. An online site selling this product states that the Tetrachlorvinphos product used is from Bayer, but it is worth noting that the new Bayer Seresto flea and tick product does not use Tetrachlorvinphos.

Functionality and Design The collar is a set length of 13 inches which you then trim to fit your cat. It does not have a safety release mechanism. The collar is water resistant but its life is reduced by swimming or exposure to the sun or rain. It is important to note that after contact with the collar it is necessary to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

People who Bought This Collar Said: There are numerous positive reviews online stating that the product works although there are some negative reviews that have indicated a number of concerns with using the product including that it can cause lesions on the skin. On Amazon, there are positive reviews about the Bayer product listed under the Slicemall details which incorrectly improves its rating.

Our Take This collar has an active ingredient that will kill fleas and ticks. There have been reviews that indicate there are potential problems in using this collar and it could affect the health of your cat. If you do decide to use this product then you will need to monitor your pet, checking its neck closely where the collar is located to see if there is any reaction to the product.

Only Natural Pet EasyDefense Flea and Tick Cat Collar

Country of Origin The Natural Cat Collar promotes itself as an all natural alternative to chemical flea collars. It is manufactured in France.Length of Protection It is designed to offer protection for up to 3 months. It is water resistant. This collar does not kill fleas and it is stated that it will not eliminate an existing flea infestation. There is an additional product that you are able to purchase that is suitable for eliminating an existing flea infestation.Active Ingredients It contains non-toxic ingredients such as Geraniol which acts as a repellent for ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes. Geraniol is extracted from geranium plants and has been shown in testing to be an effective repellent. Peppermint oil and thyme oil are the other two active ingredients.

All of these ingredients are biodegradable. It is also stated that the product does not contain any pesticides. One online sales site advises that the product contained other natural insect repellent products and oils but we have not been able to confirm this and it is not mentioned on the product site. This product does not contain ingredients which kill fleas and ticks but is intended to act as a repellent. It does not contain pesticides although you should still wash your hands after contact with the collar.

Functionality and Design The collar is 13 inches and must be trimmed to the correct length to suit your pet. It is not stated in the online information that it has a safety release mechanism. Your cat should be monitored once wearing the collar to ensure there is no allergic reaction to the oils in this collar or to the geraniol. The site recommends using the collar initially for short periods before leaving it on continually.

People who Bought This Collar Said: This collar received some mixed reviews with some saying the product is effective and others saying that it was totally ineffective. Many of the negative reviews indicated that people had an expectation it would kill the fleas. There were some who said that even while using the collar that ticks and fleas were on their cat in the collar’s location. Some positive reviews stated that while using the collar their cats were tick and flea free.

Our Take If you purchase this product then do not expect it to kill fleas or ticks. It is intended to work as a repellent and has suitable ingredients for doing just this. If you are looking for a product that will kill fleas and ticks then this is not suitable. If you choose to use this product then you will still need to regularly check your cat for ticks and fleas and consider using another product for killing any fleas in your home.

BioSpot Active Care Flea and Tick Collar for Cats, 13-Inch

Length of protection This product is intended to kill fleas for up to 7 months. Biospot indicates that the collar is only effective against ticks for 6 months.Active Ingredients The active ingredients are (S)-Methoprene and Tetrachlorvinphos. (S)-Methoprene is used to break the life cycle of fleas and is used in the well-known Frontline spray. Tetrachlorvinphos is a powerful insecticide which is able to kill ticks and fleas and is used in other products as well. Research is being undertaken to assess the impact of this insecticide on the health of animals. It is important to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after contact with the collar.

Functionality and Design The collar is 13 inches long and must be trimmed to the correct length to suit your pet. It has a breakaway safety release mechanism. Biospot declares that the effectiveness of the collar is not affected if it becomes temporarily wet.

People who Bought This Collar Said: There are many positive reviews about the product online indicating that it works well and people are happy with the effectiveness of the collar in keeping fleas and ticks off their pets. There are also quite a large number of reviews that indicate there are potential problems with using this collar. This includes that it does not keep fleas off the cats. There are also comments advising that it caused hair loss and skin lesions.

Our Take This product uses ingredients that will kill ticks and fleas. It is important that if you do choose to use this product that you monitor your cat’s health to ensure there is no negative physical reaction to the product. You should also check your cat’s neck area regularly for irritation. If there is any irritation or an allergic reaction then remove the collar and bathe your cat with mild soap and rinse thoroughly with water. If you do decide to purchase this collar then closely monitor your cat for any physical reactions while wearing the collar. Check your cat’s neck area regularly for irritation.

Hartz UltraGuard Plus Water Resistant

Length of Protection Hartz states that the collar is water resistant and kills ticks and fleas for 7 months. It also stops the flea life cycle by killing and preventing flea eggs during this time.

Active Ingredients The active component of this collar is Tetrachlorvinphos. As stated above, this chemical is an insecticide used to treat a variety of insect infestations. Even though this substance is studied nowadays for adverse effects on animals, it is nonetheless quite effective in eliminating fleas and ticks.

It is therefore recommended to pay close attention to your pet when beginning treatment with this collar, to make sure it handles this material well. If your kitty doesn’t exhibit and signs of negative reaction to it, this can be an effective flea and tick treatment. Another active ingredient, (S)-Methoprene, is also used in this collar. Used to break the flea and tick life cycle, together with Tetrachlorvinphos, you get an effective treatment.

Functionality and Design The collar is 13 inches and must be trimmed to the correct length to suit your pet. It has a breakaway safety release mechanism.

People who Bought This Collar Said: There were several online reviews that stated when a collar was placed on the cat it began to vomit and when the collar was removed the vomiting stopped. There have been other reviews stating that cats suffered lesions and became seriously ill (even leading to death) while wearing the collar. There are also other reviews which state that the collar is very good.

Our Take If you do decide to purchase this collar then closely monitor your cat for any physical reactions while wearing it. Check your cat’s neck area regularly for irritation. Remove the collar if there is any irritation or an allergic reaction.

Beaphar Cat Flea Collar Velvet

Length of Protection The Beaphar collar states that it kills fleas for up to four months. The company does not state that these collars offer protection against ticks.

Active Ingredients Permetherin is the active ingredient in these collars. Permethrin is toxic to cats, however, Beaphar declares that when used in a slow-release collar, the concentration of permethrin is low, which makes it relatively safe to use. Obviously, as with any toxic substance, it needs to be monitored. It will kill adult fleas. Information available online indicates that cats do not have enzymes in their liver which will allow them to effectively process permethrin when it is in their bloodstream.

Functionality and Design It is a soft collar which is adjustable. It has an elastic safety link to allow for release if the collar gets caught, together with a bell. It is available in velvet material. There is also a glitter collar which closely matches this one. This brand has another soft collar available, which is in red or black with some diamond shapes encrusted on the collar but it does not have the bell.

You can also write a contact number and vet name on these collars. It is important to wash your hands with soap and water after having contact with the collar. Also, make sure that your cat does not chew on the collar.

People who Bought This Collar Said The product has received mixed reviews with people indicating that they were very happy with the collar and that it worked well, while others considered that it did not work at all. There was one review which indicated a potential safety problem but this style of safety mechanism has been used effectively in cat collars for some time now. There were reviews which indicated some cats experienced skin reactions to the collar.

Our Take If you decide to use this collar then you need to be aware that the active ingredient may be effective in killing fleas, however it is toxic to cats and they are not able to process it if ingested. When you first put the collar on, closely monitor your cat and check regularly to see if there is any skin reaction around the neck. If there is any sign of skin reaction, discontinue use and rinse well with water.

Katie Cohen is a freelance writer specializing in the subject of feline health and behavior. An avid dog lover and adoring owner of two cats. When she’s not working she loves going to the park with her two Weimaraner’s Lily and Bells

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